Library and Media Center

EVALUATING INFORMATION SOURCES

Use the following criteria to distinguish the quality information from the CRAAP

Currency = timeliness
 When was the information published or posted?
 Have the links in a Web site or the citations in a bibliography been revised or updated?
 Does the topic require current information or will older sources work?
 Are the links on a website functional?

Relevancy = importance for your needs

 Is the information provided on target for your specific information needs?
 Who is the intended audience?
 Is the content appropriate for a college-level paper (not too elementary or advanced)?
 Would you be comfortable citing this source in your research paper?

Authority = source
 Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor? Is contact information provided?
 What are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations?
 Is the author qualified in the subject covered?
 What are the goals/values of the sponsoring institution? Is it legitimate, reputable?
 Does the website URL reveal anything about the source (.com, .edu, .gov, .org, .net)? Is it an official or personal
site? (a ~ in the URL often indicates a personal website)

Accuracy = reliability, truthfulness, correctness

 Where does the information come from? Is it reprinted/excerpted from another source?
 Could the information be verified in other sources or supported by evidence?
 Is there a bibliography that indicates the author’s sources of information?
 Is the author’s methodology presented?
 Are there spelling, grammar, or typographical errors?

Purpose = reason for existence

 What is the purpose of the information (to inform, teach, sell, entertain, persuade, express a point of view)?
 Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions clear?
 Does the information seem based in fact or opinion?
 Is the point of view objective and impartial or is the language exaggerated and inflammatory?
 Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?

Content based on Applying the CRAAP Test by Meriam Library, California State, Chico

LRC drive Li/library instruction handouts/evaluating information sources/Aug 2016

 Selecting the Best Information Sources

 All information sources are not the same

 The best information for a particular information need might be found in a variety of different places
 Selecting the best information source for your topic is part of evaluating your sources
 To be a well-educated college student, you need to know how to identify, select, access, search for, utilize,
evaluate, and cite the information found in a variety of sources including books, periodical articles of all types,
primary and secondary sources, and the Internet
 Community college students transferring to 4 year institutions will be expected to use a variety of sources to
complete research assignments, not just the Internet
 The Internet is not necessarily the best, first place to go for information
 Begin your research with overview or background information in a reference source or other book to gain
understanding before looking for articles that often contain very specific, focused information.
 Electronic sources are not “better” than print sources. The fact that a source is “easy” to use or access does not
mean it is the best source. One source may be electronic at one library and in print format at another—the
content is the same. The format does not determine the value or relevance of the information. Critical thinking
is required to do that.

Characteristics of Information Sources – Why Use a Particular Source?

A book
(reference, circulating, or ebook)
A scholarly article
Other periodicals
(popular magazines, substantive
news sources such as Time
magazine, trade publications,
newspapers, etc.)
The Internet
Find background information and/or context for beginning research on a
topic—identify search terminology
Find in-depth information synthesized from many sources
Book authors spend years researching a topic--expert on the topic
Identify additional resources using the bibliography, including special
collections available on the topic around the world, on the Internet, etc.
Some disciplines communicate scholarship primarily through books
(history)
Not necessary to read the entire book—one chapter might cover the topic
Published, copyrighted information—less evaluation necessary
Because publishing takes time, not the most current information
Articles written by scholars in a specific field for other scholars primarily to
report research findings—professional literature
Articles are reviewed and selected by a group of peers (peer-reviewed or
refereed)
Best source for current research, plus opinions on current issues & statistics
Not the best source for beginning information on a topic—articles are very
focused and written for scholars already knowledgeable
References to additional sources
Published, copyrighted information—less evaluation necessary
Articles written by editors, staff writers, or reporters for the general public
Published regularly—current information
Shorter articles—cover stories may provide overview/background
information
Some have a specific philosophy (political, etc.) or topic focus
Some are good sources for: book, film, and movie reviews
Trade publications publish articles written for people working in a specific
field or industry
Published, copyrighted information—less evaluation necessary
A self-publishing medium
Information found there has not been through the publishing process
Websites must be thoroughly evaluated—evaluation takes time
Websites are often difficult to cite (multiple titles, variety of document
types, etc.)
Good source for: news and current events; government information;
statistics; information on educational institutions; companies, and non-profit
organizations; selected electronic journals and primary sources; reference
works; product info; travel, entertainment, personal information